Drone May Have Collided with British Airways Jet at Heathrow

A British Airways pilot believes his aircraft was struck by an errant drone while approaching London Heathrow.

BA Flight 727 from Geneva was at 1,700’ and preparing to land when an object believed to be an unmanned drone struck the front of the plane. The Airbus A320 landed safely with 132 passengers and five crew members on board, said Michael Johnson, a spokesman for the airline.

There was no damage to the aircraft and the incident is believed to be the first of its kind.

“Thankfully the aircraft landed safely but the incident highlights the very real dangers of reckless, negligent and some times malicious use of drones,” said Chief Superintendent Martin Hendy, who heads up the Aviation Policing Command at the Metropolitan Police Service, in a statement.

“We continue to work with the Civil Aviation Authority and other partners to tackle this issue and ensure that enthusiasts who fly drones understand the dangers and the law,” Hendy said.

The matter is also under investigation by British Airways’ Accidents Investigation Branch

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